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Trivia: Musical Terms

Subject : trivia
Instructions:
  • Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
  • If you are not ready to take this test, you can study here.
  • Match each statement with the correct term.
  • Don't refresh. All questions and answers are randomly picked and ordered every time you load a test.

This is a study tool. The 3 wrong answers for each question are randomly chosen from answers to other questions. So, you might find at times the answers obvious, but you will see it re-enforces your understanding as you take the test each time.
1. The piece of cane in wind instruments. The players cause vibrations by blowing through it in order to produce sound.






2. The period of music history which dates from the mid 1700's to mid 1800's. The music was spare and emotionally reserved - especially when compared to Romantic and Boroque music.






3. Music written to be sung or played in unison.






4. A symbol used in musical notation indicating to gradually quicken tempo.






5. Refers to the tuning of an instrument.






6. In sheet music - an instruction to repeat the beginning of the piece before stopping on the final chord.






7. Unmusical - without tone.






8. Unmusical - without tone.






9. The study of forms - history - science - and methods of music.






10. A composition written for nine instruments.






11. A form of writing for vocals that is close to the manner of speech and is rhythmically free.






12. The frequency of a note determining how high or low it sounds.






13. A whole note is equal to 2 half notes - 4 quarter notes - 8 eighth notes - etc.






14. A composition written for three to six voices. Beginning with the exposition - each voice enters at different times - creating counterpoint with one another.






15. Three notes played in the same amount of time as one or two beats.






16. A quick - improvisational - spirited piece of music.






17. One who directs a group of performers. The conductor indicates the tempo - phrasing - dynamics - and style by gestures and facial expressions.






18. Rapid alternation between notes that are a half tone or whole tone apart.






19. A form of writing for vocals that is close to the manner of speech and is rhythmically free.






20. A set of six musicians who perform a composition written for six parts.






21. Pertains to tone or tones.






22. An instrumental lament with praise for the dead.






23. An extended cantata on a sacred subject.






24. In sheet music - a symbol at the beginning of the staff defining the pitch of the notes found in that particular staff.






25. A group of 4 instruments - two violins - a viola - and cello.






26. Movement or passage that concludes the musical composition.






27. The first section of a movement written in sonata form - introducing the melodies and themes.






28. Introduction to an opera or other large musical work.






29. Time in music history ranging from the middle of the 16th to the middle of the 17th centuries. Characterized by emotional - flowery music; written in strict form.






30. A system of notation for stringed instruments. The notes are indicated by the finger positions.






31. Vocal composition written for three or more solo parts - usually without instrumental accompaniment.






32. A composition written for eight instruments.






33. A style of male singing where by partial use of the vocal chords - the voice is able to reach the pitch of a female.






34. The tonal characteristics determined by the relationship of the notes to the tone.






35. A short and simple melody performed by a soloist that is part of a larger piece.






36. A form of Italian opera beginning at the end of the 19th century. The setting is contemporary to the composer's own time - and the characters are modeled after every day life.






37. The technique of altering the tone color of a single note or musical line by changing from one instrument to another in the middle of a note or line.






38. Pertains to tone or tones.






39. The structure of a piece of music.






40. The performance of either all instruments of an orchestra or voices in a chorus.






41. Primary theme or subject that is developed.






42. Either of the two octave arrangements in modern music. The modes are either major or minor.






43. Refers to the tuning of an instrument.






44. A large group of instrumentalists playing together.






45. A combination of two or more staves on which all the notes are vertically aligned and performed simultaneously in differing registers and instruments.






46. Written for 2 to 10 solo parts featuring one instrument to a part. Each part bears the same importance.






47. An extended solo - often accompanying the vocal part of an aria.






48. Pertaining to the sonata form - a fast movement in triple time.






49. A glissando or portamento. Also refers to the moving part of a trombone.






50. The seventh note of the scale where there is a strong desire to resolve on the tonic.